Improvement in folding tables



E. B. FRAN SIS.

Hiding-Tallies.

Patented March 24,1874.

jh/sni m" MGM "iii? esses I/51 I I UNITED STATES TENT QFFICE.

ELI B. FRANCIS, OF WINDSOR, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN FOLDING TABLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 148,945, dated March 24, 1874; application filed October 6, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELI B. FRANCIS, of \Vindsor, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented an Improvement in Folding or Portable Tables, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, where- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the table with the leaves folded. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the under side of the table with the leaves (and legs) expanded. Fig. 3 is a plan view of same with the legs folded. Figs. 4 and 5 represent separate views of one of the cross-pieces connecting the legs of the table.

My invention pertains to a folding or hin gedleaftable; and consists in the construction and manner of conjoining two bars or cross-pieces, which form the fixed and movable portions of the table-frame, for the purpose of adapting the parts to fold together, and thus of economizin g space when the table is not in use.

The leaves a are hinged to the side edges of the permanent top a, and the cross-piece c is rigidly secured to the under side of the same. The two cross-pieces c and e are of like construction, and provided, respectively, with legs b b d (1. Each is mortised diagonally, and the mortised sides are fitted together.

Then the piece 6 is turned on its pivot at right angles to the piece 0, as shown in Fig.2, it supports the leaves in the horizontal or extended position, the edge of the mortise in the upper piece forming a stop for pivot-piece c. The cross-piece c is set obliquely on the under side of the table-top, so that when the legs are folded together the cross-pieces c and 0 will cross each other at the same angle of obliquity, and the whole appear symmetrical.

By means of this construction, the legs and cross-pieces can be folded into close contact, and by having the permanent top only just broad enough to cover the folded legs, the two leaves will fold down close to the legs, and the whole occupy a very small space, so that it can be transported or stowed away with great convenience.

I claim as my invention- The combination of the diagonally-mortised pieces 0 and c, pivoted together and provided with legs, as shown, with the top a and hinged leaves a a of the table, as shown and described, for the purpose specified.

ELI B. FRANCIS.

W'itnesses:

WM. E. SrMoNns, JOHN PoLLIT'r. 

